Seismic shaking table tests of retrofits for large-scale model adobe structures

Abstract

Seismic shaking table tests have been carried out on instrumented half-scale models of retrofitted and unretrofitted adobe brick buildings. The progression of in-plane and out-of-plane damage to walls retrofitted with continuous, wall-encircling flexible straps or epoxy-grouted center core rods has been characterized as a function of table displacement amplitude. The major effect of gravity loading, not discernible in smaller-scale tests, was identified and is associated with sliding along diagonal in-plane cracks. The vertical and horizontal straps were successful in minimizing the relative displacement of adobe block sections that formed following initial cracking. Center core rods were very effective in stabilizing the out-of-plane gable-end walls, and block displacements were not observed.